(KNZA)--Heightened awareness, based on a recent rash of rural Brown County thefts, has left residents concerned about a vehicle making the rounds and asking questions about making purchases and other such business.  

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant tells MSC News his department is attempting to find the vehicle and learn about the driver's intentions. “We've had a little bit of concern from people out in the county that have noticed a white or silver pick-up, with Missouri plates, that is going around to different people in the county and asking about things, either from batteries to welders to tire repair, things like that. We have had some folks that gave some good information on this and we really appreciate it. What we're asking the public to do is if they notice [this vehicle] wandering around somewhere, to give us a call so we can come out and do some interdiction and find out exactly who these people are, what they're doing and do some intervention with them to make sure that we're keeping them honest and they're not trying to do something that they shouldn't be doing out there.” 

Merchant says while there's no definite evidence that the driver is breaking any law, there remains the possibility that locations are being scouted for a later return. “What we have found out from interviewing different folks that have been caught doing things they shouldn't be doing, at some time they send a scout out to look around to see different areas, what people have, maybe what they have as far as guard dogs, surveillance, whatever the case may be, to see if it wold be an easier target or not. So, what we're trying to do is kind of nip that in the bud and do a little intervention. 

Merchant says anyone with information regarding the pick-up truck, or any suspicious activity, should notify his office at 785-742-7125.